Fuel regulator



Aug. 7, 1934. .E, 1.. BAKER .1",959,250

FUEL REGULATOR Filed Feb. 24, 19s2 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizvezzi'or E. L. 5 mm dtfaiviqyd E. BAKER FUEL REGULATOR Aug. 7, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24

1 1/1 1 0 1 I x I! FF 11 1 2 I I I 6 4 4 4 z y Q Z w 31- u rm :2: w y a T N V Z 0 48 3 02 6 7 0 z jivefitvr E. L. BA KER '29 K flflorizqw Patented Aug. 7, 1-934 I v I 1 UNITED STATES emeuposmeg- 1,969,250 FUEL REGULATOR- Eugene L. Baker, Taunton, Mass. Application February 24, 1932, Seria'I'No; 594.784

9 Claims. (01; ass-20y This invention relates to the art" of automatic element and its valve, a manually operableshu f. heat control of a; burner in accordance with'the off valve, and'one or more bypasse'sthrough the heat of vapor given off from a vessel being heatmember for preventingthe'c dmplete eaztinguis e ed by the burner. I am aware that devicesof ing of the burner name whe the automatic I S this nature and for this purpose have been'herevalve'is closed; The production of an improved 60' tofore suggested and devised but such devices gas controlling device embodyingtheseand-other; have been rather inefficient-and have operated features hereinafter described comprises an ther;

in such an irregular and fluctuating mannerthat' Object of the invention. v V d U V v they have not been entirely satisfactorydor the In e s p y d awi s I havejsliown'f 1:9" purpose intended. 'I'he'primary object of my inone specific embodiment of my invention but it 65-- vention is to produce a new and improved device will be understood that't'he' inventioncarr be othof this nature which will'function with such Iegerwise' embodied and thatlthe drawings; are not ularity and accuracy as efficiently to control the to'be construed as defining orl'imiting the scope:

burner and provide a satisfactory regulator for of the invention, the claimsap'pended hereto be -f1" 1 the purpose stated. ingrelie'd upon for'tl'ia't purpose. I d j 'While my inventionas herein describe'd'is espe- Re n o 11 "figures of the drawings, I d I cially applicable to' the use of gaseous fuels, it Fig.1isan'elevationp r yinv lp fi fliwill be understood that in its broader sense it is eta-gas range embodying y v t on;

I not to be considered as thus limited since it is i -2 F P wi t efl afi r n so well adapted to use with other fuels, such as elec- 3 1 n; nlarged view taken 'online s g tgfln tricity, for example; In order properly and efof Fig. I and showlng the improved gas cock'memg ficiently to' control-the fuel supply to the bur'nt Vati er, the automatic controlling element must be so i 4 S an enla ged plan s ctiona view-easi st; W located as to" be unafiected by the burner heat taken 1 14 1 O lfl j. I 1 and must'be sufficiently responsive to' thevapor g- 5 1S 'fi 0f t e g 'bfi' 'fi 80 heat conducted thereto readily to modify the fuel :3 n r e? Ve t c e n' ew, supply but not so responsive as to cause fiuctuat 011-11119 jF g-' $1 y sectional view'taken't' tions or pulsations in the-fuel supply. The deis 3 mentavice should also be relatively simple in construc on line 7'7' 0f Fig-"6; and d d i I I tion and operation and'relatively inexpensive to 'Figs; 8- and 9 are detail viewssho'wing"anion -3 produce. Having these requirements inmind, I fi d form of valve: g Y 1 d have devised an improved regulator embodying The specific' 'construction; embodying w a' a relatively'simple bi-metallic thermostatic unit ra e 0; which I have illustrate'd in the draw? convenientlylocated and combined in the device ings t Q purpose of clearlydisclosingrny in such manner that it willautomatically'funcvention, willnow :be described; The range 1-0 tion to provide a uniform and steady flow of fuel hasthe usual-burner Hand; 2: gas supplyingpipe to the burner in accordance with the vapor heat 14 Supported by theblackets .16- G pp ed', produced by the burner and conducted to the o burner through a manifold lil,'intothe" unit. The production of such an'improved regouter endof whicnextendsthe exit nozzle 20 ulator comprises a further object of my'invenof the gas controlling member ;22, the-'gas enter- 95 tion. ing the member 22 through-the projection" 24 As above stated-my invention is especially apwhich is threaded into-the'pipe 4- A s hasbeen" plicable to the controlling of gaseous fuel and as hBIIEtOfOIQ t t QO the'obj'ects ofmy inver thus embodied the thermostatic element is preftion is to provideagas controllingmember-oi the erably so housed within the body of the controlype' ve fi d w ca be readily and" con- 1 ling member as to prevent-the escape of gas veniently substituted for-the ordinary' gas'cockstherefrom and at the same time permit the acund on househ ld anges, This memb er 22'-,- ilf tionof the vapor heat on the element to cause its lustrat'edin the drawings; is thusconstructed andautomatic fuel controlling operation. The device is adapted "to serve not only as-"a' 'manual g as' 5 is furthermore preferably constructedin abody control-butalso as an-automatiocontro'l; a1l asf member which can be conveniently substituted hereinafter described, themanualandrautorna for the ordinary gas cocks on ranges and the controls preferably being independently ope I like; As thus constructed; the device preferably me; as illustrated. I- shall-nowproceed -toner; comprises a unitary member conveniently" and scribe-the detailsof this member.

.v compactly embodying the-automatic controllmg" The member"22"has'-9 projection'Zlpffidihgfi a gas entrance port 26 and a threaded projection 28 providing a gas exit port 30. Passage of gas throughthe member via the ports can be man- ,ually controlled by a rotary valve 32 within a bore 34 of the member. When the valve is open (Fig. 6) the gas passes through the port 26, right angular port 36 of the valve, port 38, into chamber 40, and from thence through ports 42 and 30 (Fig. 4). The-valveis held tightly in place by aspring"4 4 backed up by a bushing 46 secured to the body member by screws 48. The valve may be manually rotated by a knob 50 on the stem 52,

a quarter rotation of the knob to the left serving to close the valve.

for controlling automatically the .flow of gas through the member 22.

port 38, the valve being'closed-by pressing it inwardly. Two openings are provided into the chamber and one such opening maybe closed by a threaded'plug58. The other opening extends downwardly within an exteriorly threadedprojection 6 2. The means for automatically '25 ,cont rolling the valve 54 is housed within an extension of the chamber 40 and comprising a relatively thin sheet metal. and cup-shaped member 64. This member closes the port 60 to prevent escape of. gas and also supports the thermostatic 3Q.;; meallS ll0W to be described. a v

The thermostatic -means for closing the valve 54 comprisesa U-shaped bi-metallic plate-like element 166 secured as byi-a screw 68to the inner wall of the'member and adjacent to its botga tom and closed end. Secured to and extending upwardly from one end of the element66 is va plate 70 carrying ascrew 72 adjustable toward and from the valve. .The open end of the member 64 fits snugly into the opening 60 and in such 4.3\.. position the screw 72 is disposed centrally of the valve.54.-. The wallspf'themember 6e are rela vtiv ely thijn and so heat conductive that heat vathe vapors directly against the bottomportion of themember .64. As shown inliig's. 1- -andf2,the membersfl andfi l are located at l a point remote from and below theburner, whereby the burner' heat does not affect the thermostat, and 5 the conduit 16' extends inwardlyand" upwardly to a tubular member 82 supported by a clamp 84 adjacent-totheburner.

The cooking vessel. 86illustrated comprises a 88. A tube 90 extending through the handle has its 'upper end in communication .with the interiorpf theves'sel and its'lower end projects downwardly beyond the handle. The tubular "member 82 is so located that when the vessel is in position on the burner theprojecting end of the tube 90 may extend downwardly thereinto. The weight of the lid 92 and cover 94 is ordinarily sufficient to prevent theescape of steam under normal pressures and sufiicieht to "cause generated steam. to pass downwardly through the tube 90 and conduit..76 and discharge" against the member '64. The vapor heat is thereby transmitted to the thermostatic'plate 66, -which thereupon functions to closethe valve Thechamber 40 is adapted to house the means As illustrated, a flap valve 54 is loosely supported :on' pins 56 over the closed coffee pot orpercolator having a handle 54. The thermostatic element is sufiiciently sensitive to prevent violent boiling of the liquid in the vessel and is sufficiently slow in action to prevent any fluctuating or pulsating, of the fuel flow, as will be understood.

It is desirable that the burner shall continue to be lighted so long as the hand valve 32 is open and, to assure this function, I provide a bypass around the valve 54. 'This bypass comprises a port 96 through the body member 22 and a cooperating port 98 through the valve 32. The flow of gas through these ports may be adjustably controlled by a screw 100, and it will be understood that just sufficient gas is allowed to pass tokeep the burner lighted under normal conditions. It sometimes happens that a sudden draft of airstriking the burner Will cause this low flame to. be extinguished and I preferably provide a second bypass and pilot light for relighting the burner under these circumstances. This second bypass includes a port 102 in communication with the port 96 and a tubular concljuit 104 for conducting the gas .to the burnerand providing the pilot light. controlled by'a screw l06.-

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified This gas may be 7 form of an automatic valve 108 corresponding to the valve'54. The valvebe willordinarily be moved outwardly: on its pins 56by the" gas pressure thereagainst but should any sticky deposit form on the valve seat the valve might not opcrate with perfect freedom. Itmay, therefore, be desirable 'to form the valve asshown in Figs.

8 ands, wherein the valve v108 is directly con-i nected to'the screw 110 by resilient arms 112 engaging within an annular groove in the screw, As thus c.onst'ructed,'the valve will be moved in both directions by the screw. 7 i

'It is believed that the construction, operation and advantagesfof .my invention willnow be clearlyunderstood. f 'Any gas range. can be read-. ily and easily. equipped with one or 'more'of the devices illustrated merely by removingthe standardgascocks thereof'and substituting the meme,

' 'ber 22. Thefco'oking vessel. which comprises no:

part or the present invention," will ordinarily,

be providedfwith a down'wardly'extending tube QO'adapted to into theme'mber- 82. -With the hand valve '32open (Fig. 6), a full portion of as will continue to new to the burneruhtil suflicierit steamis generated in the vessel to pass through the conduits 90 and 76 and against the member G i to heat the thermostatic elementwfifi and "cause closing movement of thevalve 54. i

This movement of the element is such as to pro- Vide a substantially uniformvfiowtof gas to the, burner and prevent too rapid boiling of the liquid in the vessel. Q Should the valve 54 be entirely closed, the bypass 96 Wi11 provide sufficient gas to keep the burner lighted, and should the burner become completely extinguished, the pilot light provided by tube 104 will relight the same. Closing ofthehand valve 32 completely cuts off ill-$.2

all supply of gas to the burner and pilot light.

It should be particularly noted thatthe entire device is contained within the member 22; which can be bodily substituted for the ordinary gas, cocks-found on householdranges. The device is, furthermore, relatively compact and so constructed that it may be readily disassembled for,

repair or adjustment. The member 64 is substantially housed within themember 74 and the member 64 supports and houses the thermostatic element 66 and at the same timeprevents escape of gas from the member 22.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for automatically controlling the passage of fuel to a burner in accordance with the temperature of vapor produced within a portable vessel heated by the burner, a fuel controlling member remote from the burner, means including a bi-metallic thermostatic element cooperating with the member in a manner cutting oif the fuel flow when the element becomes heated, and means for conducting vapor to the element and including a conduit extending to a point adjacent to the burner and having an open passage thereinto at such point adapted when the vessel is placed over the burner freely to receive thereinto a vapor conducting tube carried by said vessel.

2. In a device for automatically controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner in accordance with the temperature of vapor produced within a vessel heated by the burner, a body member having gas inlet and outlet ports and a valve chamber, a valve in said chamber intercepting said ports, a sheet metal cup-like member carried by the body member and having its open end in communication with said chamber, means including a bi-metallic thermostatic element having a curved portion seated within and contacting with the inner wall of the cupped member, said means extending into the chamber and cooperating with the valve in a manner closing the valve when the element becomes heated, and means for conducting vapor to the exterior surface of the cupped member and including a conduit extending to a point adjacent to the burner and adapted to receive thereinto a vapor conducting tube carried by said vessel.

3. In a device of the class described, a body member having gas inlet and outlet ports, a valve between the ports, means including a bimetallic thermostatic element cooperating with the valve in a manner closing the valve when the element becomes heated, and a relatively thin walled metallic housing supporting the element in direct contact with and along the inner wall thereof and enclosing said means within the body member in a manner preventing the escape of gas therefrom but exposing the thermostatic element to the action of heat applied to the exterior of the housing, the contact of the element with the housing permitting the heat to travel directly by conduction through the latter to the former.

i. In a device of the class described, a body member having gas inlet and outlet ports, a manually operable shut-off valve between the ports, means independent of said valve and including a oi-metallic thermostatic element cooperating with the ports in a manner closing the passage therethrough when the element be comes heated, and means providing a bypass through the body member and around the valve to and between the ports.

ber and including a bi-metallic thermostatic ele-v ment cooperating with the ports in a manner closing the passage therethrough when the element becomes heated, a housing for the element carried by the member, a second housing carried by the member and enclosing the first housing, and means for directing heated vapor into the second housing and against the first housing in a manner heating the element.

6. A device for closing an open port into a chamber and automatically controlling a member within the chamber, comprising a relatively thin sheet metal cup-shaped member having a single opening thereinto, a bi-metallic thermostatic element mounted on and directly contacting with and along the inner wall of the cup-shaped member, and means connected to the element and extending outwardly through the opening for controlling the first-named member, the portion of the cup-shaped member about said opening being adapted to fit within and close said port, and the contact of the element with the member permitting heat applied to the exterior of the member to pass directly through the wall thereof and to the element by conduction.

7. The device set forth in claim 6, in which the thermostatic element has a U-shaped end seated within and contacting with diametrically opposite portions of the inner closed side wall of the cup-shaped member and providing a metallic heat-conducting path from the exterior of the cup-shaped member to the element.

8. In a device for automatically controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner in accordance with the temperature of vapor produced within a portable vessel heated by the burner, a body member having gas inlet and outlet ports, a valve intercepting said ports, means including a bi-metallic thermostatic element cooperating with the valve in a manner closing the valve when the element becomes heated, and means for conducting vapor to the element and including a conduit extending to a point adjacent to the burner and adapted freely to receive there,- into a vapor conducting tube carried by said vessel, the body member having a bypass therethrough to and between the ports whereby to prevent the complete shutting off of gas to the burner and a second bypass therethrough for providing gas to a pilot light adjacent to the burner.

9. The deviceset forth in claim 3, in which said housing is a sheet metal cup-like member open only at one end and in which said thermostatic element has a U-shaped end seated within the closed end of the cup and in contact with diametrically opposite portions of the side wall thereof. EUGENE L. BAKER. 

